Development Corporation duo ordered to reimburse the public purse to the tune of £60,000

TWO of the main players in the now defunct Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation have agreed to pay back £60,000 to the public purse.

Niall Lindsay, the former chief executive, and Sean O’Donnell, the director of finance, have agreed terms with Thurrock Council to give back the money, which had been paid to them in lieu of notice and other expenses.

A government probe into the Development Corporation revealed the pair had taken payments for not working their notice and how staff were sent for patchwork, pottery and jewellery making lessons – all at the taxpayers’ expense.

The Development Corporation, set up to drive through housing and infrastructure projects, closed in October 2012 and its duties were absorbed by Thurrock Council.

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price sits on the public accounts committee which flagged up the discrepancies. She said Thurrock council was entirely right to pursue the money.

Ms Doyle-Price added: “All public servants need to remember that they are responsible to taxpayers for the monies that they spend.

“It is simply not on for anyone to give themselves a golden handshake in this way. I am only disappointed that it took legal action and no doubt costs to Thurrock Council to get this money back.”

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Council Chief executive Graham Farrant said after the out-of-court settlement : “The money will be repaid to the council so it can be used to support economic growth in Thurrock.”

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Comments (4)

Development Corporation duo ordered to reimburse the public purse to the tune of £60,000

triple j says...9:45am Wed 16 Apr 14

Can someone tell our M.P. Jackie Doyle Price to issue an up to date photo, the one above is when she was still at school . So how about it Jackie let the people of Thurrock see the real you

Can someone tell our M.P. Jackie Doyle Price to issue an up to date photo, the one above is when she was still at school . So how about it Jackie let the people of Thurrock see the real youtriple j

Can someone tell our M.P. Jackie Doyle Price to issue an up to date photo, the one above is when she was still at school . So how about it Jackie let the people of Thurrock see the real you

Score: 4

poortaxpayer says...7:42pm Wed 16 Apr 14

Jackie you have your live in lover on your payroll - reimburse that money please.

Jackie you have your live in lover on your payroll - reimburse that money please.poortaxpayer

Jackie you have your live in lover on your payroll - reimburse that money please.

Score: 4

triple j says...9:54am Thu 17 Apr 14

Jackie Doyle Price should tell the people who she represents in Thurrock for the time being what exactly she claims and to who. Many people are not aware that her live in lover is Mark Coxshall Tory councillor for fobbing and Corringham. The same man who got the police involved over a few cups of tea and biscuits when there was an election for a new councillor in Stifford Clays ,Compare that with Marie Miller in the news recently what a total waste of tax payers money. He is also paid by her and Stephen Metcalf M.P. for South Basildon and East Thurrock as there compaign Manager. He also has Many properties in Basildon and Southend which he Lets. Transparency she does not want nor her friends.

Jackie Doyle Price should tell the people who she represents in Thurrock for the time being what exactly she claims and to who. Many people are not aware that her live in lover is Mark Coxshall Tory councillor for fobbing and Corringham. The same man who got the police involved over a few cups of tea and biscuits when there was an election for a new councillor in Stifford Clays ,Compare that with Marie Miller in the news recently what a total waste of tax payers money. He is also paid by her and Stephen Metcalf M.P. for South Basildon and East Thurrock as there compaign Manager. He also has Many properties in Basildon and Southend which he Lets. Transparency she does not want nor her friends.triple j

Jackie Doyle Price should tell the people who she represents in Thurrock for the time being what exactly she claims and to who. Many people are not aware that her live in lover is Mark Coxshall Tory councillor for fobbing and Corringham. The same man who got the police involved over a few cups of tea and biscuits when there was an election for a new councillor in Stifford Clays ,Compare that with Marie Miller in the news recently what a total waste of tax payers money. He is also paid by her and Stephen Metcalf M.P. for South Basildon and East Thurrock as there compaign Manager. He also has Many properties in Basildon and Southend which he Lets. Transparency she does not want nor her friends.

Score: 4

woodsider says...11:16am Wed 30 Apr 14

the first 3 comments made on this article have no relationship to it and are frankly sexist and ageist attacks on the MP commented on. In refering to a womans photo as not reflecting her current age and talking about a "live in lover" as if the man concerned as some degree of control over the woman performing the role of MP. Whether you agree with her political persuasion or not, the MP is a solid supporter of Thurrock people and performs equally as well as a man, Not that this comparison should need to be made in the 21st century.

the first 3 comments made on this article have no relationship to it and are frankly sexist and ageist attacks on the MP commented on. In refering to a womans photo as not reflecting her current age and talking about a "live in lover" as if the man concerned as some degree of control over the woman performing the role of MP. Whether you agree with her political persuasion or not, the MP is a solid supporter of Thurrock people and performs equally as well as a man, Not that this comparison should need to be made in the 21st century.woodsider

the first 3 comments made on this article have no relationship to it and are frankly sexist and ageist attacks on the MP commented on. In refering to a womans photo as not reflecting her current age and talking about a "live in lover" as if the man concerned as some degree of control over the woman performing the role of MP. Whether you agree with her political persuasion or not, the MP is a solid supporter of Thurrock people and performs equally as well as a man, Not that this comparison should need to be made in the 21st century.

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